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No. 3. Copt of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir Hercules Robinson to the Right Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach. (No. 23.) Government House, Wellington, Sir,— New Zealand, 21st April, 1830. In reply to your circular despatch of the 16th September last, transmitting a copy of an Order of the House of Commons relative to banks in this colon and requesting me to furnish you with the desired information for presentation to Parliament, I have the honor to forward to you a copy of a memorandum which I have received from the Premier on the subject, covering a memorandum from the Colonial Treasurer, and enclosing also returns which have been received from two Banks in this Colony. 2. The memorandum of the Secretary to the Treasury explains that, as to three of the four other banks doing business in this colony, the information has probably been or will be supplied from the head offices in London; and, as to the fourth, the Head Office being in Sydney, the details needed will, no doubt, have been furnished by the Governor of New South Wales. I have, &c, HERCULES ROBINSON. The Right Hon. Sir M. Hicks Beach, Bart., &c.

Enclosure in No. 3. MEMOKAKDrM for His Excellency. The Premier presents his respectful compliments to the Governor, and forwards to His Excellency the information respecting banks and banking (so 'far as it is procurable in the colony) asked for in the Secretary of State's circular of September 16th. Eeturns have been made by two banks only ; but the enclosed memorandum by the Secretary to the Treasury explains that, as to three of the four other banks doing business here, the information has probably been, or will be, supplied from the head offices in London, and that, as to the fourth, the head office being in Sydney, the details needed will, no doubt, have been furnished through the Governor of New South Wales. "Wellington, 21st April, 1880. John Hall.

No. 4. Copt of a DESPATCH from Governor Sir Hercules Robinson to the Eight Hon. Sir Michael Hicks Beach. (No. 24.) Government House, Wellington, Sir,— New Zealand, 22nd April, 1880. I have the honor to forward to you a memorandum which I have received from my Ministers, requesting that, for the reasons therein stated, Her Majesty may be graciously pleased to authorize the issue of a new public Seal for the colony of New Zealand. I have, &c., HERCULES ROBINSON. The Right Hon. Sir M. Hicks Beach, Bart., &c.

Enclosure in No. 4. Memohandtjm for His Excellency. Mtnistees present their compliments to His Excellency the Governor, and respectfully beg to submit the following statement regarding the Public Seal of the Colony of New Zealand for His Excellency's consideration:— The Public Seal was presented to the colony by Her Majesty the Queen, and was sent to the Governor along with the Eoyal Charter, which accompanied the Constitution Act of 1852 (15 and 16 Viet., c. 72). It is made of silver, and was intended to be used with wax, to make impressions in which material it is very suitable. ]?or the purpose, however, to which it is generally applied, namely, the sealing of Crown grants, Commissions, Proclamations, &c, it has been found in practice inconvenient to use wax, and it will be preferable to emboss the seal on the parchment or paper without using either sealing-wax or wafers. To enable the Public Seal to be so applied to documents issued under its authority, it would be requisite that a steel die should be cut, with matrix to match, which could be used in a lever-press. Ministers therefore respectfully urge that His Excellency would convey to the Secretary of